Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-07-29
agashiu9tuu Stanaard
THEH0UsEo ON THE MARSH
THE MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS.
CHAPTER WIN.

some means Of bringing those most be.
coming roses back to your cheeks
again. You work too hard at those
self-imPosed evening tasks, l am
afraid"
''Oh, no, indeed don't, Mr.. Rayner'
l am getting very lazy; ! haven't done
any thing for two or three nights"
The fact was that had felt too Ian
guild even to sit down and write, and
had wasted the last two evenings list.
lessly turning over the pages Of a book
l had not read.
"Ah. then you want change of air
Now how to give it you without letting
you 60 away-fOr we can't spare you
even for q week! You will think me a
magician If procure you change Of
air without leaving this house. won't
you. Miss Christie' Yet think Can
manage it."
laughed at these promises; but the
very next day met workman upon
the staircase, and Mr.. Rayner asked
me mysteriOusly at dinner whether
had seen his familiar spirit about, ad-
ding that the spirit wore q paper cap
and dirty artisans suit, and smelt Of
beer. That spirit pervaded the house
for two days. l met him in my room,
measuring my bedstead; in the passage
carrying rolls of wall paper. and
heard the sound Of heavy boots in the
turret above my room. On the even.
ing Of the fourth day, while l was
quietly writing in the school-room after
tea, Mr. and Mrs Rayner and Hardee
came in and conducted me in formal
procession upstairs, up the narrow
winding turret-staircase that had SO
often wanted to explore, and opening
the door Of the one room the turrei
contained, Mr.. Rayner. in a short but
elaborate speech, begged to install me
as the ''imprisoned Princess of the en-.
chanted tower"
Igave a cry of delight. 1t was an
octagonal room, the four sides which
overlooked the marsh containing each
. window, while in ore of the other
sides was q small fireplace with 9
bright FIRE burning. The carpet was
new. the Wallpaper was new: there
were two easy-chairs. one on each side
Of the fire. . writing- table and Japan.
ese screen. besides the furniture of my
old room. 1t looked so bright and SO
pretty that my eyes danced with pleas.
ure at the sight, and could not speak
while Mr.. Rayner explained that now
l should be high and dry out of the
damp, and he expected me to become
red-faced and healthy-looking immedi.
ately-and that / was to have fire
whenever liked now, and one every
day when it began to grow colder.
Il don't know what to say. l don't
know how to thank you," said l.
almost panied by the extent of the
kindness showered upon me.
tried to include Mrs. Rayner in my
thanks; but she hung back almost un-
graciously, and seemed to have been
drawn into this demonstration against
her will. She was the last to leave the
room, and just before going gave me a
keen look from her great eyes and
said:
''Are you not afraid of sleeping SO
tar from every one? Or do you prefer
it?"
mo. I don't prefer it. But there is
nothing to be afraid Of, is therep'
answered, shyly.
She glanced toward the door, and,
saying hurriedly: ''Oh, no, of course
not! I hope you will be comfortable,
Miss Christie" she left the room.
Afraid! No, of course 1 was not
afraid; l never had minded sleeping
away from every body else. l wished
Mrs. Rayner had not put the idea into
my head, though. But I was too happy
In my new abode to trouble myself with
idle fears. found that, by opening
out my screen in a particular position,
I could completely hide the bed and
wash-stand, and make myself q
real sitting-room; then sat down by
the fire in one of the arm-chairs and
gave myself up to the enjoyment OF
this new piece of good fortune; and
was still gazing into the fire with my
feet cozily warming, when l heard
Sarah coming up the stairs. knew
her footstep, and l would rather not
have heard what considered her ill
0mened tread on this irst evening in
my new room. For l knew that Sarah
disliked me, and even the fact that she
had brought me up some Goals to re-
plenish my fire did not reconcile me to
her presence. tried to be friendly,
however, and, when had thanked her
for her trouble, 1 said:
II wonder this nice room has been
neglected 90 long. Has no one ever
used it. Sarah?"
Mr.. Rayner used to use it for q
study" said she, shortly. II don't
know why he gave it up; I suppose il
was too high up. That was six months
ago, before you came"
Its . long way from any body else's
room. Sarah, isn't it?"
mime is the nearest, and have ears
like needles; so you needn't be fright.
ened." said she, in tone which really
sounded more menacing than conso1.
ing:
at viii be rather lonely on q stormy
night"
"Oh. you won't want for company, ]
dare say!' she said, with harsh graf.
ing laugh.
why, all the company I am likely
to get up hero Il burglars" answered,
lugubriously.
The start she gave startled me in my
turn.
''Burglarsl What burglarsi VIVA,
are you talking aboutp"
Hooked up amazed at the effect Of
my words ON Sarah, whom, of all peo-
pie in the world. I should have consid.
cred strong-minded.
why, l have more courage than
you'll" I said, laughing lightly, I'm
not afraid of them. Would YOU be
afraid to sleep up here alone, Sarahp''
But she hardly took the trouble to
answer me except by . nod; her black
eyes were fixed upon me as spoke, as
II she would. and almost as if she could,
penetrate to my Utmost soul. Then,
- Il satisfied with tho result Of hei
scrutiny, she relapsed into her usual
hard. cold manner, and, answering nv
goodnight shortly, left me alone
The next day was Sunday, and there
were two strangers in church. They
were two fair-complexioned, light.
haired girls who sat in the Reades'
pew. and who had evidently spared No
expense on rather tasteless and unbe.
coming toilets. I caught nv self feel.
ing not sorry that they were addressed,
and glad that one was plain and that
the one who was pretty was dreadfully
freckled; and I wondered how it was
that had grown so ill-natured. Mr..
Laurence Reade sat between them, and
he shared his hymn-book with the pref.